How to properly drive F1 transmission

Welcome!

I shift mine mostly at 4000, but every once in a while (once it is warned up) I shift at 5-6000.

On the radar detector: lots of controversy out there, lots of threads. I have the Valentine 1 and also a built-in Passport in my other car. I like the V1 because you can send it back in to get updated, like to avoid the blind-spot radar that cars now have

 

The nice thing about using a detector with a jammer is that you never have to worry about speeding tickets. Not to say that I am always speeding, it just allows me to run through the gears and enjoy the drive and not worry about what speed I am going. I just go at the speed that I am comfortable with under the circumstances. It makes for a much more enjoyable Ferrari experience.

 

Congrats and welcome to the family!

Since this is your first Ferrari and first experience with the Ferrari F1 system , my humble suggestion would be to drive the car in " Sport " setting and in automatic mode for the first few weeks. Get to know the car, get to know how it pulls through the gears as pre-programmed ( auto mode ) listen to how the engine sounds, and most importantly how the car handles / feels through the transition up/down through the gears.

Once you have mastered that and are feeling comfortable , then adjust up to race mode, still in auto-mode , and drive another week , again getting to know the charteristics of the car and its systems.

Now, back to sport setting ... out of auto mode , and go drive! Push farther into the RPM range than auto mode did... see how it acts between gears up/down.

Once comfortable, go to race setting and use those paddles !

All of the above is based upon your comfort level, you may be able to get a lot of seat time in and it won't take a week to learn the car... it's up to you and your comfort level.

Then IMO , apply all that those above have stated, damn the MPG , let's hear the RPM's !!!!!

BTW, what part of Texas are you located?
If you are in the DFW area, I am happy to share a few routes / drive you will enjoy.

Steve

p.s. If you like the sound, you may consider disconnecting the bypass valves on the exhaust!

 

Regarding the radar systems.

I have had excellent experience using Waze as primary coverage and then an integrated Escort 9500 system with front and rear coverage.

YMMV

Steve

 

The main thing with the F1 will always be to go to neutral when waiting on the stop lights and also to take off relatively fast, so you can avoid the slipping of the clutch as much as you can. That's it.

 

Are there any issues with keeping the car in Auto mode all the time?

 

There are those who will say you are destroying the car if you leave it in auto. They never offer proof of this notion, but this is the Internet. Frankly, pulling the paddles is more fun, but for me, paddles will never be more fun than a manual, at least on the street.

 

FerrariGirl22,

If you live in the middle of the metroplex or toward Ft. Worth, we have a monthly gathering on the 2nd Saturday of the month at Yogi's Bagels on Hulen Ave. in Ft. Worth. Starts at 8:30 a.m. until whenever; although I can't remember the last time we weren't rained out. Relatively speaking it's a very small gathering; maybe 10-12 cars of various types. I attended for several years before purchasing my car so I could learn as much as possible. You would be very welcome to join us. Yogis has very good full breakfasts as well as coffee and bagels. And plenty of dedicated parking for us picky folks.

 

If you really want to extend your clutch life
- always manually shift, I always shift around 3k rpm. Auto mode slips the clutch more. I like taking off a little hard too.
- avoid using reverse as much as possible especially up a hill
- avoid stop start traffic (try and get a bit of a run up if you're in it rather than creeping along)
- always hit neutral when your at a stop


These things will help it last. I'm at about 37,000 miles still on the original clutch

 

Μaybe im a minority but i loved to drive my modena at 2,500 rpm especially when cold so i could hear the pop up sounds from the exhaust too.
Oh, i forgot. Valves were permanently open.

 

Thanks, I forgot to mention this.

 

Shifting at 3K may save the clutch but it is definitely not that much fun. I always shift at least at 5K (actually I shift based on sound but when I have looked at the tach I usually find it over 5K). I am at 20K on the original clutch and still going fine.

 

Congrats on the new car Ferrarigirl22. I'm also in Texas (I drive the car in Austin) and just got rid of the paper tags last week on my new to me 2005 F430. You've got a lot of recommendations on the shifting, but ultimately, just shift when it feels right for normal driving. That takes some practice, but you can usually feel the sweet spot depending on how quickly you want to move. I love revving to the top through all the gears, but I've actually found that I like getting to somewhere around 7k I think. There's a spot around there that when you're at full throttle and shift, it gives a nice kick. Only way I can describe it, is it's like a shotgun. It shifts and kicks you forward.

Regarding radars; my car came with a K40 installed (although someone stole my rear sensor on the first day), but I still rely on my Valentine 1. The Valentine 1 hasn't failed me, but it won't really save you from a laser gun. Luckily, you mostly run into laser in the more densely populated areas of major cities. Keep in mind Texas passed a law banning laser jammers back in 2013 or so (ask me how I know).

There are a lot of cool opportunities to meet/drive with other Fcar owners in central Texas if you're in the area. I was pleasantly surprised by the fairly robust scene. So make sure to join FCA or come out to a Cars and Coffee if you're into that sort of thing.

(missed the second page of posts, just saw you're in DFW area)

 

Laser jammers are illegal in a number of states, also including California where I am at. But mine is well hidden and so it is not noticeable that I am running with either a laser detector or jammer. I have never had an issue and it has saved me on a number of occasions. If I was going to use a jammer I would definitely have it hidden though.

By the way, for those that are running the K40 (which is old technology that a lot of people put in F cars in the early 2000s), you can have it reprogrammed for current radars. When I took delivery of my car in California 4 years ago it came with the K40 and really was a pain in the butt because all of the radars out there (including on cars for the new smart driving technologies) triggered it. I had a guy come out and reprogram it and it now works great. Only cost me $50. Much cheaper than going with something entirely new and I got the benefit of the hidden installation.

 

congratulations! Beautiful car!! wishing you many miles of joy.

 

Nice looking car